Decision Maker: Sustainable Growth and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: July 1, 2025

Purpose:

Content: Updates from Cabinet Members (previously circulated) were noted by the Committee and the Cabinet Members for Tourism, Localism and Planning, Transport and Economic, Regeneration and Investment were welcomed to the meeting.   Present Cabinet Members updated on the following:   -  The Cabinet member for Economic, Regeneration and Investment informed the Committee of his recent visit to  Langarth. -  The Cabinet Member for Transport referred to a forthcoming Peninsula Transport meeting and a meeting with a Plymouth bus contract provider to ascertain its approach in providing services.   A question was put to the Cabinet Member for Housing, by Councillor Magowan,  as follows:   ·  Acknowledging the important investment for family homes and the temporary acquisition programme it was considered that investment of £17.2M equating to £340,000 per house was an expensive way to home families in need.  The Committee Member queried plans for the next and future years in order to reduce the 490 households in expensive nightly paid placements. ·  Clarification on the tenure arrangements for families moving into the 50 homes.   The Service Director for Housing and Planning advised that when families were in temporary accommodation they were effectively on a short term licence whilst the Council assisted them to find a permanent home.   She advised that it was expensive to purchase homes through the open market but stated it was cheaper than paying for people in bed and breakfast but a view would need to be taken by the new administration on how they wished to take the issue forward.    The Cabinet Member for Economic, Regeneration and Investment stated that the new administration would focus on homes for local people on the land and sites that Cornwall Council owned.  He acknowledged previous previously with regards to poor quality property but stated that the administration’s aim was to have more homes in the Council’s control and/or ownership that could be used for both homes and temporary accommodation.    ·  Concern was expressed by Councillor Mitchell on the Homechoice model of provision and the importance of a better geographic spread.   The Service Director for Housing and Planning advised that the 50 homes currently being purchased were spread across Cornwall but acknowledged there were challenges of buying properties in West Cornwall.      Action:   All questions fell to the Cabinet Member for Housing.  The Chair asked for the responses as outlined in the minutes to be circulated to the Cabinet Member and for the Cabinet Member to respond direct to Cllr Magowan and Cllr Mitchell.